Advanced Program in Sports Media

What Bleacher Report Can Do for You

Once upon a time, aspiring journalists could take entry-level jobs with newspapers or magazines and work their way up. Today, every rookie has to build his or her own foundation on a fiercely competitive playing field.

B/R's Advanced Program in Sports Media is a 12-week online enrichment class for undergraduate and graduate-level journalism students and early-career professionals. Participants receive thorough schooling in the nuances of 21st-century sports reporting, with stipends paid for the completion of weekly training modules and an option to earn full or partial course credit for their work. Upon completing the program, all graduates are considered for paid positions in B/R's high-profile Featured Columnist Program.

In an industry increasingly fraught with flux and uncertainty, there's no better way—and no better place—to find your footing and start your climb.

The Program

Individual sessions begin on self-selected start dates and run for 12 weeks. Along the way, students learn the ropes and hone their skills by virtue of…

Professional Training

As a supplement to B/R's exhaustive tutorial literature, students receive hands-on instruction from veteran mentors during the acclimation phase of their programs.

Targeted Assignments

Each article topic assigned by program administrators is designed to develop key authorial skills—and all of them together give students the opportunity to reach millions of readers while writing about the sports and teams they know best.

Personal Feedback

Far too many media training programs fail to help students build on their day-to-day performances. At B/R, our team of supervisors and editors is committed to providing every student with concrete tips for improving his or her work over the long run.

The overall structure of the APSM creates a learning environment that's part classroom and part proving ground. From start to finish, you'll have ample opportunity to test your newly acquired knowledge as a real-live journalist covering stories you care about.

The Payoff

All conscientious students graduate with a keener sense of how to engage and entertain online audiences. In addition to this fundamental educational benefit, every high-achieving program participant also stands to gain…

A Portfolio-Building Experience

The diversity of article topics prescribed by the program prepares students to capitalize on new opportunities—and to impress prospective employers—in a rapidly evolving field.

A Credibility-Enhancing Position

Successful students are favorably considered for paid positions in B/R's Featured Columnist Program, which has a long history of helping talented writers attract and engage loyal audiences.

A Salary-Paying Job

Many a fruitful media career has started with a stint in B/R's APSM. That's especially true at B/R itself, where we admit every student with the hope of developing a full-time staffer.

The market for sportswriting gigs is tight and getting tighter, and B/R can't make any promises to prospective participants. The fact remains, however, that the best of the best really do go on to bigger and better things—which means that the extent of your ultimate success will depend first and foremost on your own ability and ambition.

Frequently Asked Questions

I. Program Basics

What's Bleacher Report?

Bleacher Report is the Web's premier source of insightful and entertaining sports content. Founded in 2006, the network now boasts thousands of talented contributors and an ever-growing audience of 40 million monthly readers.

Who's eligible to participate?

B/R's APSM is open to journalism students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. University-level students who aren’t journalism majors but who do have journalistic experience are considered on a case-by-case basis.

What do participants do?

Students work closely with instructors and editors to generate engaging analysis of timely news topics. In the process, they develop the skills and savvy they'll need to succeed in the evolving field of digital media. For a more in-depth look at the curriculum, be sure to explore the program's syllabus.

Where, when, and how often are students expected to contribute?

Sessions begin on a rolling basis and run for 12 weeks. All students telecommute from home and spend roughly 15 hours per week completing a series of article-based assignments.

II. The Application Process

How can I join the Advanced Program in Sports Media?

All eligible candidates are invited to submit applications via the program's online form. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so there's never a bad time to throw your hat in the ring.

What can I do to maximize my chances of acceptance before I apply?

All else being equal, program administrators give weighted preference to candidates with the most extensive publishing experience. If you don't have many published articles to your credit, you can build your portfolio by joining the B/R Writer Program before you apply.

I'm an active or just-graduated journalism student who doesn't have time for the APSM. Can I still write for B/R?

III. Life in the APSM

What will I learn as a student, and who will help me learn it?

Students learn the nuances of the online journalism business from instructors and editors with extensive experience in digital media. By emphasizing everything from story selection and keyword use to content formatting and comment-thread etiquette, the program's 12-week curriculum prepares students for the challenges and opportunities they'll encounter in the course of their careers.

Can I receive course credit for my work in the APSM?

Yes—B/R's APSM is recognized for course credit by most major institutions. You should check with the administrators at your school to confirm the details in your particular case.

Can the APSM lead to paid employment?

Yes—in addition to weekly stipends, successful students are favorably considered for paid positions in B/R's Featured Columnist Program, and many Featured Columnists go on to enjoy long-term employment with B/R or other media organizations. The competition for paid gigs is exceptionally fierce, and B/R can't make promises to any prospective applicant—but the best of the best really do earn the chance to earn a living through their keyboards.

Who can I contact if I have questions about B/R's APSM?

All specific inquiries about the Advanced Program in Sports Media can be directed to apsm@bleacherreport.com.

Ready to start your program?

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Praise and Testimonials

The APSM and its curriculum helped shift my creative, yet unorganized writing ideas into fluid, detailed work that was better suited to engage the virtual reader. Each lesson built off the previous one until I ultimately ended up a more complete writer by the program's conclusion. The program's biggest strength is the people behind it, as my editor and coach worked seamlessly with me to accentuate my strengths and call out my weaknesses.

Throughout the three-month course, I was able to understand the nature of online journalism and the value of multimedia through the guidance of personal interaction on a rapid and consistent basis. Each assignment served a purpose and each piece of feedback helped me improve, but perhaps the greatest benefit was the ability to take these newly acquired skills wherever I go.

I certainly wouldn't be where I am today without the guidance I received during my program. My B/R career started with the APSM, and I recommend it to anybody looking to learn about the art of online journalism.